Irelands home for Adventure

Filters

HI-TEC

36 products

Showing 1 - 24 of 36 products

Showing 1 - 24 of 36 products
Save $11.00
Kids Shield Jr BootKids Shield Jr Boot
Sale price$56.00 Regular price$67.00
Kids Shield Jr BootHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $33.00
Men's Stinger Waterproof ShoeMen's Stinger Waterproof Shoe
Sale price$66.00 Regular price$99.00
Men's Stinger Waterproof ShoeHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $33.00
Women's Stinger Waterproof ShoeWomen's Stinger Waterproof Shoe
Sale price$66.00 Regular price$99.00
Women's Stinger Waterproof ShoeHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $17.00
Mens Crater SandalsMens Crater Sandals
Sale price$67.00 Regular price$84.00
Mens Crater SandalsHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $6.00
Blackout Mid Waterproof Junior Hiking BootBlackout Mid Waterproof Junior Hiking Boot
Sale price$67.00 Regular price$73.00
Blackout Mid Waterproof Junior Hiking BootHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $24.00
Men's V-Lite Psych Low ShoeMen's V-Lite Psych Low Shoe
Sale price$75.00 Regular price$99.00
Men's V-Lite Psych Low ShoeHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $22.00
Women's Trail DestroyerWomen's Trail Destroyer
Sale price$77.00 Regular price$99.00
Women's Trail DestroyerHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $15.00
Men's Trail Destroyer MidMen's Trail Destroyer Mid
Sale price$84.00 Regular price$99.00
Men's Trail Destroyer MidHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $15.00
Women's Trail Destroyer MidWomen's Trail Destroyer Mid
Sale price$84.00 Regular price$99.00
Women's Trail Destroyer MidHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $11.00
Women's Auckland II Waterproof Walking ShoeWomen's Auckland II Waterproof Walking Shoe
Sale price$84.00 Regular price$95.00
Women's Auckland II Waterproof Walking ShoeHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $10.00
Men's Auckland Lite Waterproof Walking ShoeMen's Auckland Lite Waterproof Walking Shoe
Sale price$89.00 Regular price$99.00
Men's Auckland Lite Waterproof Walking ShoeHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $33.00
Men's Geo Pro Trail ShoeMen's Geo Pro Trail Shoe
Sale price$89.00 Regular price$122.00
Men's Geo Pro Trail ShoeHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $33.00
Women's Geo Pro Trail ShoeWomen's Geo Pro Trail Shoe
Sale price$89.00 Regular price$122.00
Women's Geo Pro Trail ShoeHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $15.00
Mens Bandera Lite II Hiking BootMens Bandera Lite II Hiking Boot
Sale price$95.00 Regular price$110.00
Mens Bandera Lite II Hiking BootHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $15.00
Women's Raven Mid Waterproof Hiking BootWomen's Raven Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot
Sale price$95.00 Regular price$110.00
Women's Raven Mid Waterproof Hiking BootHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $15.00
Women's Bandera Lite Mid Hiking BootWomen's Bandera Lite Mid Hiking Boot
Sale price$95.00 Regular price$110.00
Women's Bandera Lite Mid Hiking BootHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $15.00
Men's Raven Mid Waterproof Hillwalking ShoeMen's Raven Mid Waterproof Hillwalking Shoe
Sale price$95.00 Regular price$110.00
Men's Raven Mid Waterproof Hillwalking ShoeHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $4.00
Women's Diamonde Low Waterproof shoesWomen's Diamonde Low Waterproof shoes
Sale price$95.00 Regular price$99.00
Women's Diamonde Low Waterproof shoesHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $11.00
Mens Diamonde Low BootsMens Diamonde Low Boots
Sale price$95.00 Regular price$106.00
Mens Diamonde Low BootsHi-Tec
Save $32.00
Men's V-Lite Orion MID bootMen's V-Lite Orion MID boot
Sale price$96.00 Regular price$128.00
Men's V-Lite Orion MID bootHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $10.00
Mens Diamonde Mid BootsMens Diamonde Mid Boots
Sale price$100.00 Regular price$110.00
Mens Diamonde Mid BootsHi-Tec
Save $10.00
Women's Diamonde Waterproof Mid
Sale price$100.00 Regular price$110.00
Women's Diamonde Waterproof MidHi-Tec
Save $17.00
Mens Eurotrek Lite Walking BootMens Eurotrek Lite Walking Boot
Sale price$106.00 Regular price$123.00
Mens Eurotrek Lite Walking BootHi-Tec
Choose options
Save $17.00
Womens Eurotrek Lite III Walking BootWomens Eurotrek Lite III Walking Boot
Sale price$106.00 Regular price$123.00
Womens Eurotrek Lite III Walking BootHi-Tec
Choose options

Camping Tips - Before You Go

Carrying too much gear is often the first mistake when it comes to wild camping. Out of fear people compensate by carrying more gear than necessary. This not only meant carrying too much clothing but also too much food and accessories.

See basic packing list at end

You just won’t enjoy a night of wild camping if you have an insufficient sleeping bag, which is why I have a different sleeping bag for the warm and cold weather months. But here’s a few ways in which I suggest you can keep warm and comfortable each and every night:

Bring thermal leggings and socks that you can wear if needed.

– Invest in a lightweight sleeping bag liner – they can add an insane amount of warmth.

– Wear a down jacket/puffy jacket in your sleeping bag on especially cold nights.

– Place a rain jacket over the foot area of your sleeping bag.

– Wear a beanie hat to sleep so that you won’t wake up with a cold head.

– Take an emergency foil blanket as a backup.

In short, it’s better to be too warm or a cold night of wild camping is just not enjoyable!

I sometimes use a bivvy bag for wild camping and really enjoy the immersive experience they offer. But a bivvy bag is not always suitable and this is especially true during wet and windy conditions. For this reason, I most often use a one or two-man tent for wild camping in Ireland.

But what else should you consider when choosing a tent?

If you want the best chance of remaining unseen and to avoid the risk of being asked to move, a green or brown tent is the most discreet for obvious reasons.

Pick a tent that performs well in especially wet and windy conditions. I find a low profile works best because they are much less likely to shake like crazy or make noise in general.

I went wild camping on Dunree beach some years ago with a Vango Banshee 200. It’s my favourite tent for wild camping in Ireland and incredibly easy to pitch. However, I made the mistake of assuming this would be really quick and easy to set up for the first time.

It was getting dark and raining hard at the time. Due to these conditions and the onset of frustration, I spent a good hour trying to figure out how to pitch the tent properly and the rest of the night trying to get dry and warm myself up again.

It’s true, the tent is extremely easy to pitch. However, every tent design is different and the Vango Banshee 200 required a different approach than my other tents. Moral of the story? I could have avoided this disaster by pitching the tent in my backyard beforehand.

After a long hike, I do enjoy a hot meal but I’m often too tired to cook. That’s why I always carry the option to have a cold meal in the mornings or evenings. Cooking is one of the most enjoyable things about wild camping but it’s also messy at times and not always ideal in especially bad weather. What’s more, I’ve often found a cold chicken tikka wrap to be just as enjoyable as a hot meal of any kind- especially if someone made the wrap for me!

Camping Tips - When you get there

I find that picking a forest area can be especially reliable for wild camping. A forest is most often a sheltered and calm place to camp but also one in which you’ll be out of sight. In terms of choosing a spot, it’s also quite easy to pick out forested areas on any GPS or physical map.

You should also notice it’s harder to find a wild camping spot near a town or built up area. This means if you are hiking a long distance trail such as the Kerry Way or the Wicklow Way, it’s best to pick out some potential wild camping areas either long before or after such places.

Camping on a bed of pine needles is a beautiful thing and much better than a bed of stones or especially hard ground. That being said, none of this matters if it rains and you’re pitched in a ditch or depressed area that’s likely to flood or become waterlogged. It’s also important to stay clear of any dead trees or branches and avoid exposed areas when the weather is particularly wild. The last thing I would mention is the convenience of having a nearby water source. This will not only mean that you can use as much water as you like but a water source also makes washing dishes (and yourself) much easier. On the other hand, maybe it’s a spot known for midges? In which case, midges like water and this might be something to avoid.

If you want to avoid getting moved on, it’s best to wait until nightfall to pitch your tent. I actually do this so that I won’t be thinking or worrying about having to relocate. It obviously won’t matter as much deep inside Wicklow National Park but it’s a decent rule of thumb.

For the sake of the wild camping community, I also suggest you pack up and leave at first light. It’s not about getting caught but rather about making every effort not to disturb locals and to help the wild camping community avoid any unwanted attention.

I used to lead camping safaris in Africa. Before these trips, I would often pick up a few headlamps as my guests would often show up without one. You see, many of these guests had never gone camping before or tried to pitch a tent in the dark – without a headlamp. It might seem like a rather obvious or minor matter but you need both hands to pitch a tent which will inevitably make the process a little more than frustrating. The same goes for cooking in the dark, reading in the dark and going to the toilet in the dark – you get the idea!

I try not to use plastic bags wherever possible and dry bags are the ideal replacement. It’s important to use these bags to ensure your gear is fully protected from the elements. The truth is, backpacks can leak and a dry bag will ensure your backup gear is properly stored.

Just so you know, I use reusable Ziploc bags for food. However, I not only use a dry bag for my spare clothing but I also have a separate dry bag for my cooking equipment, sleeping bag and electronics. You can never be too careful but you should also find these precautions will serve you well on future trips.

Now, here’s a quick look at a basic packing list for wild camping. Please remember this is a basic outline and you will need more or less gear depending on various factors/conditions.